英语句法结构“主观性语法成分+实义性成分”的历史来源考察

An Exploration of the Studies of the Historical Origins of the English Syntactic Sequence “Subjectively Grammatical+Semantic Elements”

关于英语句法结构"主观性语法成分+实义性成分"的历史来源问题,学界对此曾做过零星的研究,但尚未达成统一的意见。本文对这些研究成果进行了较为全面的考察和梳理,发现这种句法结构之所以形成,主要缘于语法化机制中的"主观化"和SVO语序的定型。本文认为,在句首位固化的主语S是情态动词、助动词have、V-ing和被动态等主观性语法成分在句中位置固化的基点;格融合和格脱落、信息结构的削弱对SVO语序的定型均发挥了重要作用;小品词、不定式的后移以及形式主语(宾语)的产生,为规则的"主观性语法成分+实义性成分"的形成均发挥了积极的作用。

The historical origin of the English syntactic sequence ＂subjectively grammatical ＋ semantic elements＂ has been researched in English historical linguistics, but opinions are far from being unified. This paper reviews the related studies and points out that its formation is principally related to subjectivization and the fixation of SVO order. It is found that when S is fixed at the pre-verb position, it becomes the semantic anchor of such subjective elements as modal verbs, the auxiliary have, the V-ing and the passive voice; that case-syncretism, case-dropping and the weak- ening of information structure are important for the development of SVO order; and that the post-verbal position of par- ticles and the birth of the pseudo subject （object） are also functional for the development of the syntactic sequence ＂Subjectively Grammatical ＋ Semantic Elements ＂